Politics · Vietnam Bureau
Vietnam, US bolster cooperation on identifying war remains
Vietnam's Deputy Minister of National Defence has called for enhanced collaboration with the United States in locating and identifying the remains of soldiers killed or missing during the war. The appeal came during the 14th Vietnam-US Defence Policy Dialogue in Washington.
LSN Vietnam ·
Deputy Minister Nguyen Truong Thang raised the priority of increased information and document sharing between Hanoi and Washington regarding Vietnamese servicemen who fell in combat or went missing, according to officials briefing on the latest high-level defence talks.
The Vietnamese official specifically sought US assistance in bolstering DNA identification capabilities as Vietnam presses ahead with its 500-day campaign to intensify the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers' remains. Enhanced technical cooperation in forensic analysis and genetic testing could accelerate the identification process and bring closure to thousands of Vietnamese families still awaiting answers decades after the war's end.
The dialogue, held at the Defence Ministry level, underscores Vietnam's commitment to addressing lingering legacies of the conflict through scientific and collaborative methods. US support in strengthening forensic capacity represents a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation on this sensitive humanitarian issue.
The 14th edition of the Vietnam-US Defence Policy Dialogue reflects deepening security ties between the two nations and their focus on practical cooperation beyond traditional military concerns. The discussions signal continued momentum in the relationship despite historical complexities.